Ageratum plant named ‘Agbabul’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Ageratum  plant named ‘Agbabul,’ characterized particularly as to novelty by purple red flowers, early and continuous flowering, and its compact, upright, mounded and well branched growing habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Ageratum houstonianum.

Varietal denomination: ‘Agbabul’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Ageratum, botanically known as Ageratum houstonianum. The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from a cross between ‘Z1107-1’ as the female, or seed, parent and ‘Z1107-2’ as the male parent. This cross was made in September 2001. ‘Z1107-1’ is not commercially available and is not patented. ‘Z1107-2’ is not commercially available and is not patented.

The new Ageratum was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2005 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The new Ageratum has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in Gilroy, Calif., USA, in Angers, France, and in Sarrians, France since 2005. The distinctive characteristics of this new Ageratum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. It takes 7 to 9 weeks to produce a finished plant, depending on the temperature.

This new Ageratum plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Europe in October 2008. ‘Agbabul’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Agbabul.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Agbabul’ as a new and distinct Ageratum cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Early and continuous flowering with many capitula in compound         umbels.     -   4. Large mid purple capitula on medium sized, green colored         leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Ageratum. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 28 week old plants, grown outdoors.

Color readings were taken in laboratory under ambient light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘AGBABUL’ AND THE SIMILAR CULTIVAR ‘AGSANTIS’ ‘Agsantis’ (U.S. Plant ‘Agbabul’ Pat. No. 15,289) Capitula size at beginning 1 cm 0.7 cm of flowering: Number of capitula per 7-8 17 flower head:

Plants of the new Ageratum differ primarily from the plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

Plants of the new Ageratum have a mid purple flower color whereas plants of the female parent selection have a white flower color.

Plants of the new Ageratum differ primarily from the male plant selection in the following characteristics:

Plants of the new Ageratum have a mid purple flower color whereas plants of the male parent section have an off white flower color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Ageratum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

-   The plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Compact, upright, well branched.         -   Plant height.—18-21 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—36-40 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Compact.         -   Strength.—Very good.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Blooming period.—Year round. -   The stem:     -   -   Stem length.—9 cm.         -   Diameter.—4 mm.         -   Shape.—Round.         -   Color.—RHS 145B.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Length of internode.—13 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Alternate.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Slightly pubescent. Lower side:             Slightly pubescent.         -   Venation.—Reticulate.         -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—27 mm.         -   Width.—31 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side: RHS 141A. Lower side: RHS 138B.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Length of petiole.—10 mm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—1 mm.         -   Color of petiole.—RHS 138B.         -   Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Compound umbel of capitula.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—90-100.         -   Umbel size.—8 cm.         -   Umbel depth.—3.2 cm.         -   Length of peduncle.—35 mm.         -   Diameter of peduncle.—2 mm.         -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 138B.         -   Length of pedicel.—20 mm.         -   Diameter of pedicel.—1 mm.         -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 138B.         -   Number of capitula per inflorescence.—15.         -   Number of disc florets per capitulum.—80.         -   Number of ray florets per capitulum.—0.         -   Disc floret.—Corolla shape: Actinomorph. Number of lobes: 5.             Length: 0.5 mm. Diameter: 0.1 mm. Color — upper side: RHS             88B. Color — lower side: RHS 155A.         -   Phyllaries.—Number per capitulum: 16. Length: 4.5 mm.             Diameter: 1 mm. Color — upper side: RHS 140A with tip RHS             64A. Color — inner side: RHS 147C with tip RHS 64A.         -   Capitulum.—Shape in bud stage: Round, flat, showing unopened             florets from the start. Depth: 8 mm. Diameter at beginning             of flowering: 10 mm. Color at beginning of flowering: RHS             N81A. Diameter at full flowering: 15 mm. Color at full             flowering: RHS 83B.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Lastingness of the bloom.—Capitula of one umbel open over a             period of 3-4 weeks. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Number of pistils.—1.         -   Shape of pistils.—Style with two filiform branches.         -   Length of stigma and style.—8 mm.         -   Color of stigma.—RHS 88A.         -   Inferior ovary.—5 ribbed.         -   Pappus.—Short.         -   Number of anthers.—5, connate in a tube, filaments free.         -   Shape of anthers.—Ecalcarate.         -   Pollen.—A little pollen is present.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 155B. -   Seed:     -   -   Shape.—Pentagonal.         -   Length.—2 mm.         -   Diameter.—0.8 mm.         -   Color.—RHS 202A.         -   Pappus.—Very short. -   Roots:     -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous.         -   Development.—Roots develop on every part of the stem that             contacts the soil. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Plants of the new     Ageratum are tolerant to temperatures between 4° C. and 35° C. Under     commercial conditions, plants of the new Ageratum are strongly     resistant to pests and diseases common to Ageratum. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Ageratum plant named ‘Agbabul,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 